Route around Fêche-l'Église

A superb, easy walk to do in spring, featuring a wash house and a view of the new customs post at Boncourt (Switzerland).

Details

23181
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.11 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 208 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 217 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 505 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 354 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the church: the car park is next to the church.

(S/E) Turn right, then left onto Rue du Gros Chêne, then left onto Rue des Roches. At the junction with Rue des Voges, you will find the Green Rectangle markings ofthe GR®51.

(1) Turn right and enter the Rayfold Forest via a dirt track, following the markings. At the Grandvillars–Morvillars junction (on the left), leave the marked path and go straight on to cross the D36.

(2) Continue along the edge of the Grands Champs, then Milieu and Levret clearings, and
cross the N1019 from Sévenans to Delle via the wildlife crossing.

(3) Turn right, follow this path for about ten minutes (you are on the left-hand side of the N1019). When you reach a roundabout, turn right and go under a bridge, then past a second roundabout.

(4) Take the white track after the junction with the D463 and follow this track (you are on the right-hand side of the N1089).
Continue along this track, leaving a stony track on your right.

(5) Turn onto a small path on the right into the forest; continue along this path marked out amongst the fir trees. Afterwards, this path is somewhat overgrown with tall grass.
When you reach a crossroads where the path is stony, turn right (altitude 416m).
Continue straight ahead, passing under a power line and leaving the path on the right. At the next junction, turn left along the edge of the houses to join the D42 at a bend (right-angle bend).

(6) Follow the small road straight ahead, passing the cemetery on Rue des Cantons. You are now in the centre of the village of Lebetain. Turn right up Rue du château d’eau,

(7) Turn right and follow the signposted mountain bike route to the D36.

(8) Turn left onto this road and right at the next signpost to follow the Green Rectangle markings from the start. Follow this route to the centre of the village of Fêche-l’Église, passing through the Cumérille Forest.

(9) On leaving the forest, follow Rue du Jura, which turns right. Turn right onto Rue des Combes and head towards the wash house.

(10) Continue across the D463 to reach the car park (S/E) .

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 364 m - Car park located next to the church
  2. 1 : km 0.49 - alt. 378 m - On the right, entrance to the forest
  3. 2 : km 1.61 - alt. 385 m - Crossing the D36
  4. 3 : km 2.8 - alt. 418 m - Turn right after passing under the N1019
  5. 4 : km 3.64 - alt. 406 m - White path after the junction with the D463
  6. 5 : km 4.48 - alt. 408 m - Path on the right into the forest
  7. 6 : km 5.41 - alt. 404 m - Junction with the D42
  8. 7 : km 5.97 - alt. 429 m - Turn right at the mountain bike signpost
  9. 8 : km 7.3 - alt. 491 m - Turn left onto the D36
  10. 9 : km 10.5 - alt. 368 m - Exit from the forest
  11. 10 : km 10.99 - alt. 354 m - Wash house
  12. S/E : km 11.11 - alt. 364 m - Car park located next to the church

Notes

The village cemetery in Lebetain (where you can top up your water supplies).

Worth a visit

You can discover: the Enchanted Forest in Boncourt (Switzerland), the bison farm in Boncourt (Switzerland) (remember your ID).
The Malefosse hole in Beaucourt (90).
The Devil’s Footprints in Saint-Dizier-l’Évêque.
The wells at Balanciers Croix (90).

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.1 / 5
Route interest
3.9 / 5
Clo25Am
Clo25Am

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, though the time of year makes the route more challenging due to the mud and the numerous forestry works, with trees blocking the paths.

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isa 90700
isa 90700

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A very pretty wash house at the end of the walk

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CCourtois
CCourtois

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk, though there was a tricky bit on the route at the section that says “then turn left to enter the Grande Ragie forest and come out onto a stony path; follow it”: the path ends abruptly, and we never actually found that stony path. We managed to sort it out by rejoining the route at Lebetain via a different path…

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guybourogne
guybourogne

I haven't done that hike yet.

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nous900
nous900

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk to enjoy with the family – we really enjoyed getting back into family walks. Thank you

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Sicarius
Sicarius

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

To be honest, this walk isn’t exactly a challenge, but in this area there are really only two options: the stunning scenery of the Vosges, albeit with some steep climbs, or a less picturesque route with no significant elevation gain.

Note that the path through the forest north of Lebetain isn’t signposted or maintained, and you’ll have to push through the brambles.

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Good evening, patthemap
In theory, the description and the map are enough to find your way around. There’s no need for waymarkers with Visorando.
If that isn’t the case, please feel free to send us your suggestions on how to improve the description.

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patthemap
patthemap

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk, though it was a bit tricky to follow the route at the start and end, as some of the markings are no longer there. The time estimate is a bit on the pessimistic side, unless I walk quickly!
Thanks. Patrick

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yanou90
yanou90

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely circular route with an easy route.
Two points to note:
- Crossing the double roundabout at the motorway exit/entrance is relatively dangerous; it is possible to walk along the other side of the N1019 by taking the path branching off to the right just before the wildlife crossing. There is then only one lane to cross.
- Before Fêche, in the Cumérille forest, beneath the last EDF power line, a specific issue has already been rectified: an electricity pole had fallen right across the path, with live wires hanging 50 cm above the ground, and the danger was not signposted! You simply need to go back up to the next pole to pass under the line, but please be careful with children in this area.

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